Pilots’ strike threat hangs over Euro
paris: Strikes by rail workers and flooding disrupted France yesterday, as the new threat of a pilots’ strike hung over Euro 2016 football tournament a week before the tournament kicks off. Unions pressed on with the rail stoppages for a third full day, but the number of staff taking part fell to just above 10 percent, the SNCF rail operator said. Services in Paris were hit, but almost all high-speed trains were operating. However the train strike was expected to cause more disruption over the weekend. In the capital and further south, attention has shifted from the lingering strikes to the worst flooding for three decades.
UEFA fine Barcelona
dublin: Spanish champions Barcelona said they have been fined 150,000 euros by UEFA after separatist flags were flown in the Camp Nou during Champions league games last season. In a statement the Spanish champions said yesterday that they would do everything to overturn a punishment which they described as “totally unjust and...Opposed to the exercise of the freedom of expression.” Of the fine, 50,000 euros will be suspended if there is no repeat offence in the next two years.
HI congratulates Nita Ambani
new delhi: Hockey India on Saturday congratulated Nita Ambani, Founder and Chairperson of Reliance Foundation, for being nominated as a candidate to be a new member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The election for the new IOC member position will be held at the 129th IOC Session that will take place in Rio de Janeiro between August 2 and 4. The independent selection process follows a new procedure for recruitment of IOC members based on the Olympic Agenda 2020 recommendations. Once elected, she will continue to be a member until the age of 70.
Ambani is the first Indian woman to be nominated to the IOC and this comes as a recognition of her passionate work in the area of education and sports.
Chikka, Chowrasia win louis Philippe
bengaluru: S Chikkarangappa and Shiv Chowrasia joined hands to pull the rug from under three-day leaders Dev Chandigarh’s feet to clinch the louis Philippe Cup Pro Golf league for Take Chennai at the KGA golf course here on Saturday. The duo stitched together a dazzling nine under 135 for a final tally of 21 under 555 to take home the team bounty of Rs36 lakh, with the three three members pocketing Rs12 lakh each. Chikkarangappa had the additional satisfaction of picking up Rs3 lakh more for finishing on top of the individual leaderboard after the four rounds with an overall aggregate of 10 under 278 after the four rounds. He rounded up his fine show with a five under 67 that, along with Chowrasia’s four under 68, was enough to complete the dramatic win.
Indian hockey eves lose to Japan
DARWIN: Indian eves returned empty-handed from the four-nation invitational tournament here after losing 1-2 to Japan in the bronze medal play-off match on Saturday. India started the game on a bright note, pushing Japan onto the back foot immediately, and penetrated the opponent circle several times in the first five minutes. Japan rallied back and slowly got control of the proceedings as the Indians dropped back. Japan got the first real chance of the game but were denied by a brilliant diving save from Savita.Japan secured their third penalty corner in second quarter but India defended stoutly as both the teams failed to break the deadlock at half time.